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Job description
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Royal Courts of Justice Group, Legal Operations
Job Title: Lawyer, Administrative Court Office
Salary: London (within M25): £58,847 - £66,670
Number of hours per week: 37
Background
His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. HMCTS aims to ensure that all citizens receive timely access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crime, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies.
Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do, and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential. HMCTS senior management expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.
Introduction
The RCJ legal operations group includes all the lawyers working in the offices which support the Court of Appeal (criminal and civil divisions) and the High Court. It also includes lawyers working in the Upper Tribunal (including EAT).
The work of Administrative Court Office (‘ACO’) supports the Administrative Court, part of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, which exercises a supervisory administrative and public law jurisdiction for England and Wales, as well as a supervisory jurisdiction over lower courts and tribunals. This jurisdiction is exercised through the procedure of judicial review and statutory challenges.
The office has responsibility for administration of: the Planning Court, which deals with all matters related to Town and Country Planning; extradition appeals; criminal judicial reviews and case stated appeals; applications for habeas corpus and contempt; appeals against decisions of disciplinary bodies and judicial review in wide variety of subjects including prisons, police, immigration, tax, education, community care, housing and armed forces.
The lawyers are authorised to exercise judicial functions under CPR 54.1A (judicial review) and CrimPR 2.6 (extradition). The role includes providing legal support to the High Court Appeals Office in relation to appeals lodged in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, with a particular focus on providing guidance to court users and administrative staff on jurisdictional and procedural matters.
Job Description
Administrative Court Office lawyers are responsible for pro-active case management of proceedings; they provide expert advice and assistance to the parties and the judiciary by overseeing the management of cases, advising on how and when they should be heard and by undertaking analysis and legal research.
Key responsibilities and duties:
- Case management
o Promote and practise proactive case management, to ensure that cases are progressed consistently, efficiently and in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules (overriding objective) or other relevant rules with a view to minimising delay and reducing outstanding cases.
o Exercise judicial functions subject to authorisation by the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) and President of the King's Bench Division (PKBD) to ensure that judicial resources are utilised efficiently.
o Prepare accurate and concise legal notes in all cases.
o Provide guidance on the procedural requirements of the relevant court to staff, professional court users and members of the public, in particular litigants in person.
o Maintain an accurate overview of all legal issues relevant to the jurisdiction, including identifying cases raising linked issues and test cases.
o Prioritise case load effectively in accordance changing business demands, adapting focus as necessary to ensure that urgent and/or high-profile matters are progressed appropriately.
o Identify important and high-profile cases for inclusion in the flagged cases schedule.
- Develop and apply legal skills.
o Maintain and develop specialist skills by keeping up to date with developments in public law generally, relevant procedural rules and case law with a strong focus on continuous learning.
o Identify developing trends in the caseload area.
o Attend in-house and external training courses to complete relevant continuous professional development requirements.
- Keep stakeholders informed.
o Respond to questions and queries from solicitors, counsel and litigants in person accurately and promptly.
o Maintain an effective working relationship with, and respond to queries from, the judiciary.
o Maintain a dialogue and exchange of information with other stakeholders, for example the lower court, other agencies and legal representatives.
Other duties
Accountability
The post holder will report to the Senior Legal Managers.
The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and to undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.
Location of Post
Located within the Royal Courts of Justice.
Recruitment Process
You will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.
Required Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales (i.e. having completed training contract or pupillage), or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (eligible where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the GDL/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved) at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the seven foundation subjects in law).- Post qualification experience with good working knowledge of public law and procedure.
- You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Conditions of appointment
Prior to appointment candidates will be asked to provide an original copy of their legal qualification certificate. We will ask you to bring this with you to interview.
You will be required to provide evidence of the following behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a quality service
- Communicating and Influencing
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on experience and on the lead behaviour of Making Effective Decisions. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, where they will be assessed against both behaviours and strengths.
Candidates invited to Interview.
Please note that interviews will be carried out in person in London.
Candidates invited to interview will be required to undertake a situational legal skills judgement test. The following legal professional skills will be assessed:
- Produces sound analysis using secure legal research.
- Maintains relevant and up to date legal knowledge and skills.
- Has reliable legal judgement and understands legal risk.
The interview will assess both technical legal skills (situational legal skill questions) and Behaviours and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.
You can refer to the Civil Service Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Interviews dates will be confirmed.
Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Starting Salary
The starting salary for this post is £58,847.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales (i.e. having completed training contract or pupillage), or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (eligible where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the GDL/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved) at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the seven foundation subjects in law).
- Post qualification experience with good working knowledge of public law and procedure.
- You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Conditions of appointment
Prior to appointment candidates will be asked to provide an original copy of their legal qualification certificate. We will ask you to bring this with you to interview.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Post Qualification Experience
Benefits
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
